Lyme Disease Science Blog

The risk of a tick bite for pet owners

Are pet owners more at risk of being bitten by a tick? Yes, according to a study in the journal Zoonoses Public Health. [1] The risk is significantly higher for both dog and cat owners. Jones and colleagues looked at 2,727 households in three Lyme disease-endemic states. More than half (56.7%) reported owning an indoor-outdoor pet, either a dog and/or cat.

But for those households that found ticks on their pets, the risk of a human tick encounter was increased significantly, with a 2.69 times greater risk of a tick crawling on a household member and a 2.5 greater risk of a tick attachment. [1] “We were surprised,” says Jones, “to find that the reported use of tick control on pets did not have a protective effect on tick encounters.”

The authors also found that certain property features increased the likelihood of human tick encounters. Homes with a vegetable garden, compost pile, log pile, bird feeder, stone walls and children’s play equipment were at a greater risk of “finding ticks both crawling and attached to household members.” [1]

There may be several reasons why the risk of tick exposure is greater for pet owners. The authors suggest:

Pets may bring ticks onto the property and even into the home where humans can encounter them.

Pet owners may engage in activities with their pets that take both themselves and their pets into tick habitat, increasing the risk of tick encounters for both the pet and the humans.

Pet ownership is increasing in the United States, and many pet owners allow their pets to share their living space, including beds and furniture.

This study did not demonstrate an association between tick encounters in pet-owning households and tick-borne diseases. However, another analysis found “self-reported tick encounters may be a robust surrogate for disease risk at the household level.” And therefore, “we believe the greater risk of encountering ticks in pet-owning households reflects a true increase in risk of tick-borne disease in these households,” states Jones and colleagues.

Pet owners should be made aware of these risks and reminded to conduct tick checks regularly on pets and household members and to consult their veterinarian regarding effective tick control products.

4 Replies to "The risk of a tick bite for pet owners"

08/28/2017 (9:53 am)

Thanks for such an informative article. It is true that tick bites are more probable if one spends time with their pets or other animals, but it can be prevented using a repellent that contains a minimum of 20% of DEET or picaridin, whenever you or your children are around the pet. Regular pest control inspections and treatments are also a must for homes with pets.

Dr. Daniel Cameron

08/28/2017 (12:52 pm)

Jennifer

05/04/2018 (8:43 pm)

Since 1988 our family has had 3 dogs who lived to be 13-15 years old. Now, since I have been diagnosed with Lyme Disease, my husband says we will never have another dog. It makes me very sad but, after reading this I’m feeling very nervous too. 🙁

Danielle

06/28/2018 (1:48 pm)

Jennifer, since when does your husband have the right to make decisions like this one for you? YOU are responsible for your own medical care, and the decision about whether or not to get another dog is YOURS, not HIS. And I should point out that you can get Lyme disease by simply taking a walk around the block near your house. You don’t even have to HAVE a dog with you to get bitten by a tick, because they live in trees and on plants. You can also get bitten by sitting on a chair in your own yard. So your husband is being unreasonable and CRUEL to you by telling you that you’ll never have another dog. It’s NOT THE DOG’S FAULT that you got bitten.

Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH, is a nationally recognized leader for his expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. For more than 25 years, he has been treating adolescents and adults suffering from Lyme disease.

Introduction

Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH, is a nationally recognized leader for his expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. For more than 30 years, he has been treating adolescents and adults suffering from Lyme disease.